Laos so far!

Hello night #3 in Luang Prabang! So great here - so many activities! We pre-ordered our Vietnam visas and got them back today - our entry date to Vietnam is not until Jan 22 so we decided to stay one more night here! Longest we've stayed anywhere so far at a whopping 4 nights. Our first day (after we slept like BABIES on arrival from the slow boat), we rented some bikes, found a map, and hit up some temples and monuments. First, we visited two monuments dedication to 2 different kings / presidents - monuments are located in the middle of the city and are PRISTINE compared to surrounding areas. Afterward we moved onto two of the main (suggested sites) Wat Phone Phao (excuse my spelling guesses) aaand Wat I-Don't-Know that is at the edge of the old town on a GIANT hill - it is essentially a network of shrines and biddhas built into the rock, with an actual Wat at the top. You can see the whole town from there! We just happened to be at the top when the monks began their daily 4pm drumming/ritual. We could hear drums and percussion going on all around the city from the top of the hill - soo cool!! Speaking of monks, we are going to get up at 530am tomorrow to watch the monks as they collect their daily alms - offerings, I guess you could call them, from the people of Luang Prabang. Then probably back to bed! Haha :) Today we did a different kind of sightseeing - more of the NATURAL wonders. We did an all-day kayak tour down the Nam Khan river that runs past Luang Prabang! We began our journey downstream at about 930 this morning, and after stopping at a traditional Hmong / Khmer / Lao village, the Tadse waterfall, and somebody's memorial (the Frenchman who discovered Angkor Wat - Henri Mouhot...at least I think his name is Henri), we pulled in to our landing spot at around 4pm! So many water activites lately. The kayaking was great - some so calm it seemed we were on a lake, and a few rapids that soaked the boat! Cloudless skies to boot. Tomorrow the possibilites are endless.... might check out the Royal Palace, national museum, smoe more sights, or do a half day tour! We shall see! To

River cruising - slow boat to Laos on the Mekong!

Caves right close to Luang Prabang - we are in Lord of the Rings

Delicious food always. Pho Wednesday every day

Second level of Wat Phone Phao!

Giant Buddha - Wat I-Don't-Know aahah. This is the Tuesday Buddha